Crawlspace Moisture – The Perpetrator behind Wood Rotting

Do you have bouncy and uneven floors? Has your crawlspace become the source of a musty odor? Is your house always humid? If the answer to any of these questions is yes then the wooden joists and structures in the crawlspace might be under attack. Wood rot from crawlspace moisture causes the bouncy and unevenness in floors. If left untreated, the rotting wood can buckle and break over time and bring down the structure it supports.

What Exactly is Wood Rot?

Wood is generally biologically resistant to any attacks and is, therefore, an excellent construction material. However, when exposed to moisture over prolonged periods of time wood becomes a breeding ground for fungi. The wood-rotting fungi attack its cell walls and cause the cells to lose their strength. There are two basic types of wood rot:

White Rot: Appearance of grey and white strands across wooden structures are termed as white rot. These fungi are restricted to the surface of the wood and cause the wood to become fibrous in nature.

Brown Rot: Darker brown color suggests the fungus has succeeded in penetrating the wood structure. In this case, the fungi cause cross-cracking of the wood both across and along the grain and warrants immediate action.

How to Identify Wood Rot?

The following signs suggest wood rot from crawlspace moisture:

• Disintegration or softening of wood
• Wood discoloration
• Visible fungi growth
• Musty or mushroom smell from the wood
• Cracks in the wood
• Loss of strength

Wood Rot – a Sign of Problems to Come

Wood rot is generally a result of the growing moisture build-up in crawlspaces. Crawlspace moisture can create numerous problems that can impact the structure and integrity of the house:

Mold and Mildew Growth

The moisture that causes wood rot also provides a hospitable environment for the growth of mold and mildew around the house. This moisture can easily spread around the house making it a breeding ground for mold and mildew growth. These creatures can lower the quality of air inside the house and cause irritation of the eyes and the breathing tract.

Pests

High humidity is an open invitation to pests and dust mites who thrive and multiply under such conditions. When the presence of moisture circulates around your house it provides pests such as dust mites and bed bugs ample space to grow. These pests are a primary source of many allergies and infections.

Foundational Cracks

Humidity in the crawlspace may be indicative of high moisture or groundwater levels. The presence of high moisture in the soil can lead to an increase in hydrostatic pressure which can cause the foundation to develop cracks.

The Solution

Wood rot from crawlspace moisture even in the very nascent of stages warrants action. The preliminary portion of the solution involves the application of fungicides to the wood. However, the solution is temporary because the presence of moisture will further enable the growth of fungi and wood rot. The permanent solution to the problem is crawlspace encapsulation. In this process, the crawlspace is lined with vapor barrier and all open vents and doors into the area are closed to prevent any outside air from entering.

Benefits of Crawlspace Encapsulation

Crawlspace encapsulation is a profitable investment for the following reasons:

• Prevents wood rot, mold and mildew growth
• Protects the foundation from moisture
• By preventing any outside air to enter the house, crawlspace encapsulation helps save big on electricity bills
• Improved quality of air and enhanced HVAC system efficiency

How Can We Help?

We, Baycrawlspace, are a team of seasoned structural and home repair professionals who provide an array of home repair solutions. Our main objective is to provide our clients with the best of services at affordable rates. To ensure we understand your problem thoroughly, we send our expert property inspectors to examine your property. Following the inspection, we draw a detailed estimate of the costing of the service based on your preferences and budget all for free. Call us today and nip wood rot and other problems in the bud by encapsulating your crawlspace.